Thanks for bringing this up. I hadn't been familiar with the song.

WAITING AROUND TO DIE
(Townes Van Zandt)

Sometimes I don't know where this dirty road is taking me
Sometimes I don't even know the reason why
But I guess I keep a-gamblin', lots of booze and lots of ramblin'
Well, it's easier than just a-waitin' 'round to die

Well, one time, friends, I had a ma, I even had a pa
Well, he beat her with a belt once, 'cause she cried
She told him to take care of me, headed down to Tennessee
Well, it's easier than just a-waitin' 'round to die

I came of age and I found a girl in a Tuscaloosa bar
Oh, she cleaned me out and hit it on the sly
Well, I tried to kill the pain, I bought some wine and hopped a train
Seemed easier than just a-waitin' 'round to die

Then a friend said he knew where some easy money was
We robbed a man and brother did we fly
But the posse caught up with me, drug me back to Muskogee
And it's two long years, a-waitin' 'round to die

Oh, but now I'm out of prison, I got me a friend at last
He don't drink or steal or cheat or lie
Oh, his name is codeine, he's the nicest thing I've seen
Well, together we're gonna wait around and die
Yeah, together we're gonna wait around and die


Source: https://www.cowboylyrics.com/lyrics/van-zandt-townes/waiting-around-to-die-12440.html (corrected from original recording)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l4zfEkKs2ZM